Somalia thread for the week ending November 22

Seems to be a lot of "firsts" this week in Somalia...

Garowe Online: Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jama slams Somali President’s remarks

Somalia’s Ahlu Sunnah Wal-Jama has condemned remarks made by Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, terming it as insult to the group.

In an interview with BBC Somali Service, President Ahmed describe the group as any another armed militia fighting in his war-torn country.

Sheikh Omar Sheikh Mohammed Farah, Ahlu-Sunnah’s chairman slammed the remarks as an insult to his group.

“President Sheikh Sharif has openly ignored our existence, describing us as guerrillas just like Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam,” he said in a press conference.

Sheikh Farah called on the president to apologize within 48-hours or else his group will take unspecified action against the Somali government.

In the interview, President Sharif stated that there are on-going talks with pro-government group in joining his administration, a statement which the group’s leader rejected and termed it as lies.

The group’s leader said they will formally lodged their complains and agreement with TFG to the parliament, urging parliamentarians to respond about the president’s remarks.

It is the first time the group, which declared its support to the fragile UN-backed transition government, to strongly criticize the government.

SMC: Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama criticises President Shariff’s speech

The emotion of the faction which is a close allay of the current government of Somali was aroused when President Shariff has said that the faction of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama is a tribal based faction.

The administration of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama has loud and clear said that the President has flagrantly committed a crime against them so he should immediately repent and give a apologise through the media, or else the faction will suspend their support to his government.

...

“The president of Somalia has committed peccadillo against us and we are asking him to immediately give apologize through the media or else his statement will have awful impact in the relation between the current government led by him and the faction of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama” said Sheikh Omar Sheikh Mohammed Farah the chairman of the administration sector of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama in a press conference.

...

On the other hand Dahir Abdul Kadir a lawmaker in the Somali government, has sent a message apologise to the entire members of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama regarding about the offence which they said the President of Somalia has committed against their faction.

“The entire of the Somali lawmakers deeply regret the differences which has emerged between them and Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama, in fact we know that Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama always says that it is part of the Somali transitional federal government, and we are sending our apologise to the faction of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama” said Dahir Abdul Kadir the lawmaker.

It is not yet known how this statement from the Somali parliamentarian will convince the faction of Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama.

Garowe Online: Somali lawmakers call on president to resign

Some lawmakers have called on the embattled President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to resign over incompetence and making several foreign trips since his election.

The MPs who met in Mogadishu, accused the president of failing to stabilize the war-torn country, urging him to pave the way for the election of a new leader who can serve his people better.

“The president has went loggerheads with Puntland, the only state that is supporting his government and Ahlu-Sunnah group which backs him,” said Dahir Abdikadir Irro, one of Somali MPs.

...

“If Sheikh Sharif fails to fulfil his duties, we think its best for him to step aside before parliament revokes his position,” said the lawmakers.

...

It is first time that Somali lawmakers have called on the embattled president to hand over the leadership.

Also,

Shabelle Media: Ahlu sunna clerics order people in central Somalia not to watch films

the Islamic clerics of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a have ordered the people in Abudwaq district in central Somalia not to watch films, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Wednesday.

The clerics said publicly that they totally banned watching films through the district saying that the films could lead the people in wrong and evil deeds asserting that all men and the women will be taken a right step if they did not abide by the Islamic clerics’ order in Abudwaq district in central Somalia.

The clerics also refused drivers to drive the trucks with very high speed through the district while traveling.

It is the first time the Islamist clerics of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a clerics issue like this orders against the people in the town to watch movie and also to drive very high speed thought the town which meant the people to follow the right way that Allah has ordered his slaves to follow.

But, just when new things start popping, there's always old reliable Ould Abdallah, still clinging to the same ole' tired attempts to control information and shape perceptions...

Inner City Press: UN's Somalia Envoy Blames Web Sites for Aid Cut Off and Child Soldier Reports

The UN's top envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould Abdallah was asked Wednesday by the Press about the reported suspension of U.S. aid due to diversion to the Al Shabaab rebels, and the recruitment of Somalia refugees in Kenya to come back to fight Al Shabaab. He dodged both questions by referring to the ills of online media and web sites.

When Inner City Press asked about the recruitment of fighters including child soldiers in refugee camps in Kenya, Ould Abdallah replied that Somalis have "three hundred web sites... People write and print what they want." Video here, from Minute 0:54. But the sites reporting this include the UN's own ReliefWeb.int, here.

Likewise, when Inner City Press asked about reports -- by both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times -- of the suspension or delay of U.S. aid due to diversion of World Food Program funds to Al Shabaab, Ould Abdallah said "they campaign through web sites [that] they don't don't like help" from the U.S. or WFP. He added that it is difficult to prevent diversion. ...

Then Ould Abdullah turned his comments on Inner City Press itself, saying "you are very specific. You ask only controversial or difficult issues." ... Given that the alternative is to ask bland or easy question, "that's journalism," Inner City Press replied. "It is not journalism," Ould Abdallah said.

Ould Abdallah ended his 11 minute stakeout by asking an intern, "Who are you with?" When told the name of the cable television network, Ould Abdallah directed the intern to ask a question, since "he [Inner City Press] monopolize." ...

Since Ould Abdallah's spokesperson Susanna Price has refused to answer e-mailed questions about who paid for UN-sponsored conferences and the Transitional Federal Goverment's wages and security, and about Ould Abdullah's role in a Norwegian funded, Kenyan drafts Law of the Sea filing subsquently voted down by Somalia's parliament, to ask Ould Abdallah four questions after none for many month hardly seems a monopoly.

Ould Abdallah previously called for a moratorium on the reporting of the killing of civilians by AMISOM peacekeepers in Somalia, saying that these reports only led to more strife. When Human Rights Watch and others called for him to retract the censorship call or resign, he did neither.

Secretariat sources say Ould Abdallah was asked to apologize, but that he refused. "He called the UN's bluff," said a source. "They feel that they need him." This is what the UN has come to.

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From the November 18th Ecoterra International SMCM

SPANISH BROKE DEAL SAY PIRATES

Several local observers from the pirate lairs of Harardheere and Ceel Hur give an account different to the media spin below.

They all agree in two points:

A) The helicopter from the warship went after the group, which had brought the 3 Spanish hostages from the coast onto the fishing vessel Alakrana, while they returned to the coast. But the chopper only did reach them when they were already close to the beach and therefore only could manage to shoot up the boat, while the Somalis escaped. Only one of them was slightly wounded in the attack.

Thereafter the helicopter gunship went after a car, which was leaving the village of Ceel Hur, but the occupants heard the chopper coming and abandoned the car in the middle of the track, diving into the bush. While the car was severely hit by gunfire from the helicopter, no person was killed or wounded.

B) The captors of FV ALAKRANA actually had an argument already before the release of the vessel concerning the release of the 3 Spaniards held as hostages for the return of two Somalis arrested in Spain.

In the first instance the group, which argued that the Spanish had promised more money if all crew members are released and that the two Somalis would be returned to them based on the word of honor given by the Spanish Ambassador to Kenya, won the upper hand and no real fight ensued while they managed to bring the 3 Spanish Sailors back to the vessel. But when upon return the arrangement of a peaceful release was broken by the attack of the Spanish helicopter and also a group of those, who had opposed the plan and wanted to keep the Spaniards as safety, were attacked while driving away in their car, these men felt that they had been betrayed by the return party, which caused a brief exchange of angry gunfire between the two groups causing four men to be wounded.

At no time there was a fight over the agreed ransom money both sides stated, but those who had not wanted to release the 3 spanish sailors kept on land, thought that the other group had received extra cash for the return of the three and wanted their share of that. Only when they realized that actually also the return party had been attacked by the helicopter, both sides understood that broken agreement was targeting all.

The group of sea-shifta holding the Alakrana had vowed earlier that if the Spanish Ambassador would brake his word they would keep the British couple taken hostage from their yacht as pawn.

Spanish Prosecutor Jesus Alonso therefore might not only want to have a look into the dealings of the owner of the vessel, the middlemen and the lawyers but also under the doormats and the carpets of the Spanish government, the embassy and the Spanish navy, if true justice shall prevail.

One sad record does the FV ALAKRANA hold already - it's the highest sum ever paid worldwide for the release of a fishing vessel.

Further on in issue 290, they note that

The Spaniards made so many mistakes in this case, that regional analysts as well as professional K&R (kidnapping & ransom) negotiators working on anti-piracy believe the Alakrana case will have serious negative implications for the future as well as the present 14 hostage cases - all certainly negative for the hostages and all leading to a further escalation, they stated. The Spanish proposal to blockade three piracy ports with Kanonenbootpolitik would just be the joke of the year along the 3,330 km long coastlines of Somalia.

and on the stories of the Maersk Alabama again being the target of unsuccessful hijackers on Wednesday, they add

This vessel is regularly working under a special contract with the US Department of Defence. The company refused to rename the vessel and maybe the Somali sea-shifta know better what is in the containers.

and then point out this AP story

US calls for intensified efforts to combat piracy and warns against paying ransom

The United States of America is calling for intensified efforts to combat piracy and warning against paying ransom.
U.S. deputy ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo expressed concern that ransom payments have contributed to the recent increase in piracy.
She said the United States is encouraging all countries to adopt a policy of “no concessions” when dealing with pirates.
DiCarlo spoke at an open meeting of the U.N. Security Council Wednesday on the fight against piracy.

The long scheduled meeting coincided with Wednesday’s second attack by Somali pirates in seven months against the U.S.-flagged ship the Maersk Alabama, which was thwarted by private guards onboard, and payment of a $3.3 million ransom to Somali pirates on Tuesday to free a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members.

[N.B.: In the corridors people were asking each other how much the Somali pirates actually were paid for this timely stunt.]

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Somaliland Press: Some 350 Troops Complete Training in Djibouti

Djibouti prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita today attended the ceremony to mark the end of training of some 350 Somali soldiers by France.

The charge d’affaires at the Somali embassy in Djibouti, Mr Abourhaman Mohamed Hirabe, the French ambassador, Mr Dominique Decherf, the chief of staff of French forces stationed in Djibouti (FFDJ), Brig Gen Thierry Caspar-Fille-Lambie, as well as several top Djibouti and French military officers also attended the ceremony which took place at Myriam Camp some 70 kilometres from the capital.

Following in the example of the first group of 154 elements of the Somali security forces trained by France a few months ago, the second contingent of 350 men also received training that lasted about six weeks.

The training overseen by the 5th RIAOM [French Overseas Interarmy Regiment] was aimed at instilling in the Somali soldiers the basics of international law of war and to create the beginnings of a group spirit.

It is worth noting that the French government had broached with the European Union a suggestion of training 3,000 additional Somali security forces, a plan which will goes in hand with the training of national coast guards in the area. Financed by Japan and the EU, a centre based in Djibouti with the support of Kenya, Oman, Tanzania, but also the provinces of Somaliland and Puntland will open in January 2010.

France’s support for the transitional government and more precisely its participation in the putting together of a Somali national security force comes in the framework of UN Resolution 1872, France’s ambassador to Djibouti explained, adding that he was convinced that the process launched by his country opens a new path to the reconstruction process and the pacification of Somalia.

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AP on Monday ran a long story on the recruitment of ethnic Somalis in Kenya, Kenyans recruited to fight in Somalia, which borrowed alot from the HRW report, but also reported the following

Thousands of people, including children, are being secretly recruited and trained inside Kenya to battle Islamic insurgents in neighboring Somalia, according to deserters, local officials, families of recruits and diplomats. Most recruits are Somalis living in crowded refugee camps and Kenyan nationals who are ethnic Somalis living nearby.

Spokesmen from the Kenyan government, police and military, as well as the Somali chief of military staff, have denied that the government is recruiting fighters within Kenya. But interviews showed that recruiting has been taking place for months and that different government agencies and military resources — including vehicles with government license plates — have been involved.

...

Eight diplomats, citing internal reports and other sources, told The Associated Press that the recruits are being trained for a planned offensive on behalf of Somalia's weak, U.N.-backed government to wrest control of parts of southern Somalia from the insurgents. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to prevent damaging relations with Kenya over the sensitive subject. Two of the diplomats said the offensive is planned for the end of Somalia's rainy season around the end of the year.

...

About two months ago, recruiters started openly operating in Kenyan towns and in nearby huts and tents of the refugee camps, according to more than 20 interviews with recruits, their families and religious, municipal and civil society leaders. Some recruiters even worked from a hotel fronting a heavily fortified U.N. compound in the northern town of Dadaab, home to three overcrowded camps of about 275,000 refugees, most from Somalia.

Baijo Mohamed, chairman of a youth group in Dadaab's Ifo camp, said he had been approached by two Somali generals to help recruit fighters but refused because he did not want to see his friends die in a war they are not responsible for.

More than a dozen deserters said they were promised positions in the Kenyan or Somali armies or jobs with U.N. security by men acting as recruiters. Some said they were told they would patrol the Kenya-Somalia border. But upon arrival at the training camp, they were told they were going to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, or Kismayo, a key southern city under Islamist control.

...

Kenyan Defense Ministry spokesman Bogita Ongeri denied a secret militia is being formed or that the military was involved in any recruitment or training. ... adding that the only training taking place is Kenyan police training Somali police.

"The military is not involved at all in any training of any Somali forces," he said. "This is propaganda being disseminated by some militia groups in Somalia."

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said he is not aware of any such police training by Kenya. Alejandro Bendana, the manager for the U.N. program training Somali police, also said he knew of no such U.N.-related training in Kenya. The main training area for police recruits is in the northern Somali region of Puntland, Bendana said. [Is that correct?]

Ismail Garat, the deputy mayor of the northern town of Garissa, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Dadaab, said he has received many complaints from constituents about the recruitment for the secret militia.

"They recruited retired Kenyan army officers first," Garat said. "Then they came back and began to take the youth."

Garat estimated at least 300 young men disappeared from the town into the militia. Garat's brother was among those approached and the deputy mayor had to persuade him to return.

Hussein Mahad, the secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers for the town, said all 100 of the imams in his group have reported complaints about the recruitment drive. He said he knew of a woman whose husband, a retired Kenyan soldier, had joined early in the process and whose son was taken later.

Garat said trucks from the Kenya National Youth Service with government license plates took away the recruits from Garissa at night. Witnesses told him military escorts were sometimes present. Most of the recruits from Dadaab said they were also transported on trucks with government plates.

The deserters all said they were taken to Manyani, a training center for the Kenya Wildlife Service outside the port of Mombasa. They said their cell phones were confiscated upon arrival and Kenyan citizens had to surrender their identity cards.

...

Both Somali and Kenyan military officials were involved in the training, the recruits said, adding that they recognized Kenya's green military uniform and beret on some trainers while others wore plain clothes.

Salad Dahir, a tall, thin man in a tattered blue shirt, said he had traveled to the training site in the crowded, sweltering truck about a month ago. He said the Kenyan military did the training — push-ups and other calisthenics.

"Kenya military were there wearing uniforms," added Hassan.

...

Several recruits said they know of dozens of minors in the militia, and one spoke of a boy as young as 11.

"The recruiters said, 'Even if you're 15, you're still old enough to handle a gun,'" said 16-year-old Ahmed Omar, one of four minors who deserted.

Northern Kenya legislator Adan Keynan, chairman of Kenya's Defense and Foreign Relations parliamentary committee, said parliament has opened an investigation into the recruitment allegations. He declined to comment on the inquiry but said several politicians have complained of the recruiting drive.

Gen. Yusuf Ahmed Dhumal, chief of staff of Somalia's military, denied recruitment is taking place in Kenya. He said Kenya is training 1,500 Somalis recruited in Somalia as soldiers to support the Somali government. Training is also taking place in Ethiopia and Djibouti with U.S. support, he said.

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SMC: The State Minister of Defence aplogises [to] Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama

Honorable Sheikh Yussuf Mohammed Siyad best known as Inda’ade has sent a message of apologise on behalf of the Somali President his Excellency President Sheikh.

...

“It would something of respect that if the faction of Ahlu-sunnah thinks that the Somali government has violated them, they should have not said their feelings through the media, but instead contact the government, so that we would have sorted out together all the weak points, so now on behalf of the Somali Transitional Federal Government I am sending apologise to our brothers Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama” said Sheikh Yussuf Mohammed Siyad the Somalia State Minister for defence in a press conference.

On the other hand the state Minister has lashed with words a Somali legislator who had talked to the press saying that the President has sinned against Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama.

“The legislator is neither the President of nation whom Ahlu-Sunnah Waljama has committed crime against them nor the Speaker of the House and in very country there is constitution tio guide the country, it is something disgracing for an MP just to reach at the Microphone of the Press and say anything that comes a cross his mind” added the state Minister.

Shabelle Media adds

“On behalf of the voice of the transitional Federal Government president Sharif Sheik Ahmed, we are apologizing for the Islamic clerics of Ahlu sunna Waljama’a for statement that the Somali president suggested recently. Really are apologizing our brothers Ahlu sunna Waljama’a who infuriated the president’s speech and demanded to be responded by the officials of the government as soon as possible,” said Sheik Yusuf Mohamed.

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Shabelle Media: Two government soldiers killed, more wounded in fire exchange in Mogadishu

at least two government soldiers have been killed and more than five others have been wounded in a fire exchange between the transitional government troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Thursday.

Sources close to the TFG said that the fighting started at the front gate of the transitional government Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharma’arke in Mogadishu as the transitional cabinet concluded their meeting at the PM’s office in the capital.

Locals said that the fighting was between the security guards of two ministers who were member of the transitional ministers who were taking part in the meeting as they dispute and misunderstood adding that two soldiers died while more others wounded during the clash of both sides which reportedly said that the AMISOM troops who were in the Somali PM’s office in Mogadishu mediated them and achieved to halt their gun battle.

We had contacted with some the government officials to know more on the reason. But declined to give further details about the clash of the government soldiers and It is unclear the real aim that both soldiers fought in the capital so far.

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Mareeg Online: Ethiopian troops deployed near Somali border

More Ethiopian troops have been deployed near the Somali border in Gedo region in western Somalia, witnesses and officials said on Thursday.

Reports from the region say Somali soldiers are accompanying the Ethiopian forces who were deployed near the border.

Residents say the Ethiopian troops made military movement and operations in Sufka area in the border between the two countries.

It is not known the reason behind the movement of the Ethiopian troops, but Islamist rebels control towns near the Ethiopian border with Somalia.

Sheikh Salman, an Islamist official from Hizbul Islam rebel group in the region says they had information about the Ethiopian troops and added that the Ethiopian soldiers were aiding “Somali militias”.

“We know that the Ethiopian soldiers are in Sufka settlement and are escorting Somali militias to attack the regions controlled by the Mujahideen,” said Sheik Salman.

A Somali government official, who requested not to be named, said they were planning attacks against the rebels to reclaim region under the control of the Islamist rebels.

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Drones?

Mareeg Online: Planes flying low level seen in Kismayo

Planes flying with low level have been seen in the port town of Kismayo 500 km south of the Somali capital Mogadishu overnight, witnesses said on Friday.

Residents say they could hear load sound coming from the planes which were repeatedly flying over the city. It is not known the motive behind the planes and which country they belonged to.

Residents expressed concern about the planes which were flying over the city.

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A press release issued Friday by Congressman Donald Payne, chair of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health,

In late October, the Puntland government arrested five men of Ogadeni origin. These men came to Puntland using Somali travel documents provided by Somali authorities in Yemen.

Puntland and Ethiopian security personnel, invited by Puntland authorities, interrogated the prisoners. One of the prisoners, Abdi Mohamed Hassan also known as “Abdi Teerso” was handed over to Ethiopian security. Another prisoner died while in custody. An elderly man from Puntland was arrested by Puntland authorities after he publicly criticized the government.

This is not the first time Puntland authorities have harassed, tortured, killed, and handed over men of Ogadeni origin to Ethiopian security. Over a year ago, two senior members of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) were handed over to Ethiopian security by a Puntland minister. They came, with the permission of Puntland authorities, to discuss the murder of an elder.

In June 2009, I invited President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) of Puntland to testify before my Subcommittee on Somalia. After the hearing, I discussed a number of issues with him, including the targeting and the handing over of Ogadenis to Ethiopian authorities. I was assured then that this would not happen again and that the government would reach out to this community.

In an effort to resolve the recent detention of the five men, I called the President of Puntland to discuss my concerns and strongly urged him to release them without delay. I even proposed that the men be sent to another country where they will be safe. A week passed and nothing happened.

In mid-November, I met again with the President of Puntland and his Interior Minister in Kenya to urge them to release the three men still in detention in Puntland. Again, he pledged to find ways to pardon the prisoners. In fact, Puntland authorities are now threatening non-Puntland Somalis to leave some areas within 48 hours.

I strongly condemn this abusive and dictatorial behavior and demand the immediate release of the prisoners. I also call for those responsible for the killing of the prisoner and intimidation of Ogadenis to be held accountable, including senior officials who authorized these measures. Failure to act quickly on this matter will have serious consequences.

Interesting that there's no mention by Payne of the role of Puntland's Intelligence Service, the PIS...

From a March 30th report at Garowe Online:

[President Farole] expressed regret at the loss of life following an incident in the port city of Bossaso, where Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) soldiers arrested a local cleric last week, sparking riots.

"Puntland security is the responsibility of security forces paid by the Puntland government. There are other security agencies, who are paid from elsewhere," President Farole added ambiguously.

The PIS has secretive ties to Western intelligence agencies, especially the American CIA, with widespread reports indicating that PIS soldiers are paid, trained and equipped by the CIA.

Even the major wire service AFP reported on April 29th of this year that

The Puntland intelligence service (PIS) was established nearly a decade ago and has been at the centre of heated debate since Abdirahman Mohamed Farole was elected as president of the region in January.

Although officially part of the Puntland interior ministry, the PIS is believed to be largely funded by Western agencies and has often operated outside of the Puntland administration's authority.

Payne carefully avoids mentioning PIS' role even in the 2008 extradition, which was also covered by Garowe Online on April 25, 2008

Abdinur Mohamed Soyan and Dhire Oof, both members of the ONLF Central Committee, were arrested by Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) agents on April 22 at a hotel in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland.

...

An independent inquiry by Garowe Online discovered that Mr. Soyan’s relative was wounded earlier this month by PIS agents, who raided his home and arrested him for yet-unspecified reasons.

...

Traditional elders in Bossaso were successful in helping release Mr. Soyan’s wounded relative from jail briefly, but the sources said PIS agents raided his home for a second time and placed him back in jail.

It was learned that Mr. Soyan’s wounded relative later died in incarceration from gunshot wounds sustained during the first PIS raid, according to well-placed sources who did not wish to be named in print.

...

According to a Web site statement from the ONLF, both officials arrested by Puntland regional authorities were “unarmed political figures and posed no threat to the security of Puntland.”

The ONLF online statement alleged that the two officials – Mr. Soyan and Mr. Oof – were interrogated by PIS agents in Garowe before being transported in the personal car of Puntland Finance Minister Mohamed “Gaagaab” Ali to the Ethiopian border, where Ethiopian intelligence officers awaited.

Not wanting to be misinterpreted as to suggest laying everything at the feet of "Western intelligence agencies, especially the American CIA", Ethiopia, of course, holds a lot of influence in Puntland. As the Ogaden Human Rights committee pointed out at the time of the 2008 extraditions,

These regional entities such as Puntland and Somaliland are not independent from Ethiopian interference.

Ethiopia established an intelligence-gathering bureau called “Ethiopian Interest Protection Office” to pursue members of its opposition through its numerous agents in Hargeisa and Garowe who have been given free license to detain, rape, torture and kill any Somali from the Ogaden suspected of being an ONLF supporter.

Due to the magnitude and scale of the oppression and violations of the basic human rights in the Ogaden, a large number of Somalis from the Ogaden region flee from their homeland to neighbouring countries, including Puntland, seeking asylum, shelter and safety.

Refugees from the Ogaden who escape from the Ethiopian government’s unceasing infringement on their basic human rights are being persecuted in Puntland as well as Somaliland and TFG areas, where they are constantly imprisoned, tortured and then handed over to the Ethiopian government in exchange for ammunition, materials or simply to prove loyalty, cooperation and friendship to Ethiopia.

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Shabelle Media: AMISOM troops make new military base in Mogadishu

the African Union troops (AMISOM) have made new military base in Digfer hospital in Mogadishu, just as they blockaded the movement of the traffic of Mekka Al-murakama street in the capital on Sunday morning.

More troops of the AU with armed vehicles could be seen in forming new base in the hospital, a former base of the transitional government troops in south of Mogadishu.

Residents in the areas of the hospital expressed concern about the deployment of the AU forces who were also making military movement there adding that they had had the fears of fighting that starts in Hodan district in Banadir region.

...

More troops with battlewagons could also be seen around Makka Al-mukaram Street; a key road that connects between the presidential palace and Km4, a base for the Ugandan troops in Mogadishu and making military movement on the street which they also blockaded its movement from the use of the traffic in Mogadishu.

Resident in Mogadishu expressed fears as they saw the tanks of the AMISOM troops in more areas like Makka Al-mukarama, Wadnaha, Sayidka and Taribunka, all the main streets of south and central of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Somaliweyn Media Center reported that

Digfer hospital ... once used to be largest hospital in Somali.

The troops have taken position after a company of the Somali national police were overnight evacuated from that very base which the AU troops have stationed themselves on Sunday.

Later Sunday,

Shabelle Media: Heavy fighting kills two, wounds 5 others in Mogadishu

at least two people have killed and 5 others wounded after heavy fighting between the Islamist fighters and the transitional government troops backing by AMISOM broke out in parts of the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials told Shabelle radio on Sunday.

Reports say that fighting started around 5:00 pm local time on Sunday afternoon in parts of Hadan and Hawl-wadag districts and also parts of Makke Al-mukarama street in the capital.

...

Locals said that the clashes also spread further and bitterly continued at Dabka intersection, a key position for the transitional government troops and Shaqalaha, another military base for the Burundian troops in the long street of Makka Al-mukarama which connects between the presidential palace and Km4, an important base for the Ugandan troops.

At least two people where reportedly killed and 5 others wounded as a mortar shell landed into parts of Barmudo neighborhoodin Hodan district according to a resident who gave an interview to Shabelle radio to night.

The real casualties of the fighting is unclear so far as there are more of the emergency traffic vehicles of Life Line Africa those are currently traveling through the areas of the fighting as the fighting is yet continuing.

Mohamed Osman Arus, a spokesman of the Islamic organization of Hisbul Islam for the operations confirmed to Shabelle radio that the fighting started as they attacked the bases of the AMISOM troops in Mogadishu.

Garowe Online fine-tunes the picture a bit more

Mohammed Osman Arus, Hizbul Islam’s spokesman said that his forces carried out attacks on government and AU troops who were advancing on rebel territories.

The clashes erupt after AU forces made military movement in Hodan districts especially Digfer Hospital where they briefly occupied and then vacated later in the day.

This Mareeg Online article is the only source I can find at the moment announcing a visit from Museveni to Mogadishu, and it does so in such an ambiguous way that it's suggestive of it having been the cause of the AMISOM manuevers.

Ugandan President to visit Mogadishu

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, is to visit the Somalia capital Mogadishu, where thousands of Ugandan troops are based as a part of the African Union Troops in Somalia, reports said on Sunday.

The reports say President Museveni will visit the Ugandan troops in the capital and also will meet his Somalia counterpart Sheik Sharif Ahmed.

The African Union troops were deployed in Maka Mukarrma road that connects the airport and the presidential palace.

The African Union Troops have also made operations in the road to pave the way for the arrival of the president.

It was this morning when the AU troops made new military base in former Digfeer Hospital in Mogadishu.

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Not sure what to make of this story right now - it sounds similar to previous propaganda efforts and, even if Hizbul Islam is truly on the verge of collapsing altogether, it's not clear what gain would be made.

Garowe Online: Aweys holds secret talks with Al-Shabaab

The leader of Somalia’s Hizbul Islam, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has secretly held talks with some top Al-Shabaab officials to discuss the brewing row between the two groups.

Confidential sources told Garowe Online that the meeting was tense with Al-Shabaab officials asking Sheikh Aweys to join them.

“The Hizbul Islam leader was pressured to resign from his post and join Al-Shabaab, but he decided to take time and think about it,” said one of Sheikh Aweys’s advisers who requested anonymity.

The official said top Hizbul Islam official are planning to meet next week to discuss about the Al-Shabaab demands over their leader.

The two groups, which are jointly involved in arm struggle against the embattled UN-backed Somali government, have broke ranks in recent past after they disputed over the control of Kismayo, a lucrative southern port city that is source for insurgence activities across the war-torn.

The fight over KIsamyo has also affected the relation between Sheikh Aweys and his deputy Sheikh Hassan Turki.

Speaking in Nairobi, Sheikh Abdinassir Serar, the group’s Foreign Affairs Secretary accused Aweys of being impediment, adding that the group will soon take stand against him.

As Michael Weinstein had noted in his October 27 analysis,

Another reported split in H.I. is between its chair, Sh. Hasan Dahir Aweys, and its former chair, Dr. Omar Iman, whom Aweys has supposedly accused of leaning too far toward H.S.M. and who is reportedly trying to mediate between H.S.M. and H.I.